International Exams · Entrance Exams

TOEFL Exam Pattern

Two hours, four sections, twelve task types, and a score on 1–6 that comes with its old-scale equivalent for two years.

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TOEFL · checked 19 September 2026

TOEFL at a glance, from the official notices

The dates, vacancies and rules below are read on the conducting body’s own site and rewritten as each notice appears. The guide beneath carries the full pattern, syllabus, cut-offs and free mock tests.

Free TOEFL mock testTOEFL syllabusToday’s current affairs
19September 2026

Checked 19 September 2026

TOEFL: the facts that matter now

  1. 01

    Adaptive; about two hours — Reading 50 items in about 30 minutes, Listening 47 in 29, Writing 12 in 23, Speaking 11 in 8

    Format since 21 January 2026

  2. 02

    ETS, at test centres and as the TOEFL iBT Home Edition under a live proctor

    Administered by

  3. 03

    University admission at 13,000+ institutions in 160+ countries, above all in the United States and Canada

    Used for

  4. 04

    Four section scores and an overall on a 1–6 scale in half bands; a comparable 0–120 total also reported until January 2028

    Scoring

Pattern

TOEFL — How the paper is structured

Section timing as ETS publishes it; directions are not included and the adaptive design varies the count a little.
SectionItemsBase timeScore
ReadingAbout 50About 30 minutes1–6 in half bands
ListeningAbout 47About 29 minutes1–6 in half bands
WritingAbout 12About 23 minutes1–6 in half bands
SpeakingAbout 11About 8 minutes1–6 in half bands
Overall—About two hoursAverage of the four, rounded to the nearest half band; 0–120 equivalent also shown
How the scale works
Each section is scored 1 to 6 in half-band steps, and the overall score is the mean of the four rounded to the nearest half band — an average of 5.125 reports as 5. ETS’s published correspondence puts an overall 5 at 95 or more on the 0–120 total, 5.5 at 107 or more and 6 at 114 or more. Institutions are updating their requirements; where a university still quotes 0–120, the report’s comparable total answers it.
MyBest scores
The report also shows superscores — the best section scores from all tests taken in the previous two years, combined — which many institutions accept; check the admissions page.
Delivery
At a test centre, or as the Home Edition on your own computer with a live human proctor. The same test, timing and scoring apply. Some visa authorities do not accept the Home Edition; Australia requires the “Taking TOEFL for Australia” selection at registration.
Fees and services
US$173 in India, before taxes. Express registration inside seven days of the date is $49, rescheduling $69, each additional score report $29, a speaking or writing rescore $80 or both for $160, express scoring $129.
Results
Available in the ETS account three days after the test, with the exact date shown at the end of the test and an email when ready; the PDF report follows in 24 to 48 hours. Scores are valid for two years.

Exam resources

Everything for TOEFL

Six resource pages, each kept in step with the latest official notification.

TOEFL SyllabusTOEFL iBT syllabus for the 2026 test — the twelve task types across reading, listening, writing and speaking, what each asks, and how the sections are timed.TOEFL Exam PatternTOEFL iBT exam pattern since January 2026 — the adaptive two-hour sitting, section timings, the 1–6 scale and its 0–120 equivalent, MyBest, fees and results.TOEFL Previous PapersTOEFL iBT practice — ETS’s rebuilt practice tests for the 2026 format, what older material still teaches, and what to take from each attempt.TOEFL Mock TestsTOEFL iBT mock tests — full two-hour sittings of the 2026 format with a headset, scored on the 1–6 scale, and reading the result against a requirement.TOEFL PreparationTOEFL iBT preparation for the 2026 test — everyday and academic English together, the discussion post, recorded speaking, and registration choices for a visa.TOEFL Study MaterialTOEFL iBT study material for the 2026 format — ETS’s official practice and guides, and everyday and academic English sources matched to the twelve task types.

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